Man charged with destroying Teslas

A man named Paul Hyon Kim, aged 36, has been charged with federal arson after allegedly setting fire to five Teslas and shooting at them with a semi-automatic rifle in Las Vegas. This incident is part of a troubling trend of attacks against Tesla, stemming from frustrations over government funding cuts related to the electric car brand, which is overseen by Elon Musk.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) reported that emergency services were dispatched to a Tesla repair center on March 18 following gunfire reports. Upon investigation, authorities found that Molotov cocktails and a .30 caliber AR-style firearm had been employed in the destruction of the vehicles. Additionally, the words "Resist" were spray-painted on the building.

Kim was taken into custody a week later and now faces serious charges, including one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm and one count of arson. The arson charge alone could lead to a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

US Attorney General Pamela Bondi emphasized the seriousness of these attacks, labeling them as domestic terrorism. She stated that the DoJ is committed to pursuing those responsible for such acts and ensuring they face significant legal repercussions.

Bondi's remarks highlight the government's ongoing efforts to address this wave of violence targeting Tesla properties. The department aims to deter similar incidents by prosecuting offenders to the full extent of the law.